Fountain pen desk sets



March 1956 N. K. RHOADES FOUNTAIN PEN DESK SETS Original Filed Nov. 6, 1951 INVENTOR. NOLAN KENT RHOADES BY JMQ W ATTV.

. The pen 88 includes a body 90 provided with a cavity 92 for receiving the ink storage element 94 and the nib 96. The ink storage element 94 is also preferably rigid, and may be composed of sintered metal of the type above referred to, and is provided with a forwardly opening cavity 98 of cylindrical cross section complementary to the reduced portion 82 of the ink lifting element.

The pen nib 96 may be of any preferred type, such as the nib 64 of the above mentioned parent application, i. e., arcuate in cross section and having a body of substantial circumferential extent forming the greater part of a tube. The cavity 92 may have a cutout portion throughout the appropriate circumferential extent to receive the body of the nib, and a longitudinal rib for insertion between the side edges of the nib body, for retaining the nib in proper position. By reason of such construction the ink storage element 78 frictionally V engages the pen nib and the rib in the cavity, so that the ink storage element and the pen nib are retained in the cavity by frictional engagement therewith. The exact details of the pen nib do not constitute an essential of the present invention. The nib is provided with the usual pierce and slit forming a pair of nib sections,

-the outer ends of both of which constitute a writing tip. The nib preferably is coaxial with the pen body and the writing tip thus is offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the pen and on the side thereof adjacent the hood-like portion 97, extending longitudinally forwardly beyond the extreme forwardmost portion of the hood, as well as the ink storage element. The nib slit is in capillary ink feeding relation with the ink storage element. The ink storage element has a forwardly directed, exposed surface portion in line with the longitudinal axis of the pen for engagement with the inner end of the capillary ink lifting element 44, the latter being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the socket and thereby coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pen when the pen is in the socket.

When the pen is inserted in-the socket in the position illustrated in Figure 1, it is placed in the position where the forward end of the ink storage element engages the outer end of the ink lifting element, and the writing tip of the nib extends into the space surrounding the outer end of the ink lifting element. This space is peripherally continuous so that the pen may be turned to any angular position about its longitudinal axis and in any such position the writing tip is enabled to extend into the said space. Furthermore, since the ink lifting element and the ink storage element have portions disposed coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pen when the pen is in place in the socket, the two capillary elements will have mutual capillary engagement in all positions of the pen. It is therefore unnecessary for the user to first determine that the pen is in a certain predetermined angular position before inserting it in the socket,

but he may insert it in any angular position with full assurance that the desired capillary engagement is established between the ink lifting element and the ink storage element.

When the pen 88 is inserted in the socket 84, the cavity 98 in the ink storage element therein receives the reduced portion 82 of the ink lifting element and there is accordingly mutual capillary ink transfer engagement between the two capillary elements throughout the inner surface of the cavity 98.

Accordingly rapid transfer of ink from the ink lifting element to the ink storage element is eifeted whereby the ink storage element becomes rapidly filled and it is not necessary that the pen be in the socket for any appreciable time for the ink storage element to be filled.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 includes, in common with that of Figure I, that feature whereby the ink storage element in the pen has a cavity for receiving a portion of the ink lifting element in the base. In Figure 2 the reservoir 16 may be identical with that of Figure 1 and the pen retainer 100 includes a tubular element 102 having a bore portion 104 at its inner end in which the ink lifting element 106 is mounted and may be held as by friction. The ink lifting element in the present instance likewise is preferably rigid and may be of sintered metal, of the character above referred to, and includes a lower or inner portion 108 of cylindrical form and constituting that portion which engages the bore 104. Extending upwardly or outwardly from the portion 108 is a reduced diameter portion 110, of tapered shape and diminishing in diameter outwardly of the tubular element 102. The portion 110 is disposed centrally of the socket 112, coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tubular element 102 and the socket therein. The socket 112 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentialy spaced ribs 114 for engagement by the pen 116, providing for passages between the pen body and the wall of the socket so as to eliminate pumping action of the ink when the pen is inserted in and removed from the socket.

The pen 116 has a cavity 118 opening forwardly of the pen in which is mounted a capillary ink storage element 120 preferably rigid and composed of sintered metal of the nature above referred to. The ink storage element 120 is provided with a forwardly opening cavity 122 of tapered shape complementary to the shape of the extension 110 of the ink lifting element. The pen 116 is also provided with the usual nib 124 which may be generally similar to that above referred to and fitted in the cavity 118 with the ink storage element in such a way that both the nib and ink storage element are retained in the cavity by friction engagement therewith. A rib 125 is formed in the cavity 118 for engaging the side edges in the nib body, in a manner similar to that referred to in connection with Figure 1.

As in the previous embodiment the user need not take any precaution for positioning the pen in any predetermined angular position in order that the desired capillary contact engagement be estabished between the two capillary elements.

The relative dimensions of the pen 116 and ribs 114 are preferably such as to permit the pen to be inserted into the socket to such an extent that the reduced portion 110 is fully received in the cavity 122 without the ribs acting to limit the movement of the pen before that position is reached.

I claim:

1. In a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening establishing communication from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion adapted to receive a pen, a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element with a portion of reduced dimension extending centrally into said socket, said socket defining an annular space surrounding said reduced dimension portion of substantially uniform axial extent at all points therearound, and a pen having a capillary ink storage element in its forward end and a writing nib in capillary feed relation to the ink storage element offset laterally therefrom and extending forwardly therebeyond, the ink storage element having a forwardly opening cavity adapted to receive the outer end portion of the ink lifting element when the pen is inserted in said socket, whereby the two capillary elements are in mutual capillary ink feeding relation and the writing tip of the nib is disposed in the space surrounding the outer end of the ink lifting element.

2. In a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening establishing communication from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, a substantially rigid capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element'and having a reduced outer end of circular cross section at all points therealong extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element, and a pen having a substantially rigid capillary ink storage element in its forward end with a forwardly opening cavity in line with the longitudinal axis of the pen complementary in size and shape with the reduced outer end of the ink lifting element, and a writing nib in capillary feeding relation to the ink storage element having a writing tip laterally offset from said longitudinal axis and extending forwardly beyond the ink stor age element, said pen being adapted for insertion in said socket in a position wherein said cavity receives the .outer reduced end of the ink lifting element in capillary ink feeding relation therewith throughout the surface of said cavity.

3. In a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element and having a reduced outer end of cylindrical contour extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element of substantially uniform axial extent, said reduced portion being exposed in said annular space, and a pen having a capillary ink storage element in its forward end with a forwardly opening cylindrical cavity coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pen complementary in size and shape with the reduced outer end of the ink lifting element, and a writing nib in capillary feeding relation to the ink storage element having a writing tip laterally offset from said longitudinal axis and extending forwardly beyond the ink storage element, said pen being adapted for insertion in said socket in a position wherein said cavity receives the outer reduced end of the ink lifting element in capillary ink feeding relation therewith throughout the surface'of the cavity.

4. In a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element and having a tapered, reduced outer end of circular cross section at all points therealong extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element, and a pen having a capillary ink storage element in its forward end with a forwardly opening, tapered cavity coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pen complementary in size and shape with the reduced outer end of the ink lifting element, and a writing nib in capillary feeding relation to the ink storage element having a writing tip laterally offset from said longitudinal axis and extending forwardly beyond the ink storage element, said pen being adapted for insertion in said socket in a position wherein said cavity receives the outer reduced end of the ink lifting element in capillary ink feed ing relation therewith throughout the surface of said cavity.

5. In a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, said tubular element 35 nal ribs in the socket portion thereof, a substantially rigid capillary ink lifting element nounted in the inner end of said tubular element having a reduced outer end portion extending into said socket centrally thereof, said socket defining an annular space surrounding said reduced portion, and a pen having a capillary ink storage element in its forward end and a writing nib in capillary feed relation to the ink storage element offset laterally therefrom and extending forwardly therebeyond, the ink storage element having a forwardly opening cavity adapted to receive the reduced portion of the ink lifting element when the pen is inserted in said socket, whereby the two capillary elements are in mutual ink feeding relation and the writing tip of the nib is disposed in the space surrounding the outer reduced end of the ink lifting element.

6. For use in a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, and a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element and having a reduced outer end extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element of substantially uniform axial extent, said reduced portion being exposed in said annular space.

7. For use in a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, and a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element and having a reduced outer end of cylindrical contour extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element of substantially uniform axial extent, said reduced portion being exposed in said annular space.

8. For use in a capillary pen desk set, a base having a reservoir and an opening from the reservoir to the exterior, a tubular element mounted in said opening defining a socket in its outer portion for receiving a pen, and a capillary ink lifting element mounted in the inner end of said tubular element and having a tapered, reduced outer end of circular cross section at all points therealong extending into said socket centrally thereof, there being a peripherally continuous annular space between said reduced outer end and the tubular element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957 Farley Jan. 20, 1841 183,853 Hormann Oct. 31, 1876 1,227,927 Payne May 29, 1917 2,258,030 Oxley Oct. 7, 1941 2,304,832 Kofke et al Dec. 15, 1942 2,365,236 Zane Dec. 19, 1944 2,620,499 Dressel Dec. 9, 1952 2,629,359 Rosenthal Feb. 24, 1953 2,708,904 Rhoades May 24, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,692 Great Britain of 1887 415,429 France July 12, 1910 

